RAILWAY TARIFFS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1974, 3 February 1914, Page 9

RAILWAY TARIFFS.

Alleged anomalies iii the Railway tariff came up for discussion at last ovemng's , meeting of tho Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce. A report on {lib matter was presented by Mr. A. Leigh-Hunt, who asked , the meeting to adopt .1 recommendation affirming that tho chamber was entirely opposed to the principle- adopted by tho present railway tariff in using railway rates, for protection purposes, tho chamber 'believing that once foreign goods had paid Customs dh'ties and had been admitted to tho country,' no further impost should bo levied in the shape of a peiial railway rate. The speaker gave a number of ilhistratidiis of alleged anomalies in the railway tariff. Candles rtnd kerbsono, he said, were rated tho same as.chocolates and other such Insuries. -DateSj. raisins, and currants paid the same as theatrical machinery. Dead poultry was charged twice as much as game. Veßotaßles paid more than fruit. The rate for corn sacks was 9s. Bd., whilst 265. 6d.. was charged for wool sacks. 'Also a higher rato was charged on hardwood timber ' imported from Australia. ;

The chajrm.fin (the Hon. CM. Luke) Could see _ri6. reason, why anomalies dhbiild .exist," especially in the case of certain good", which were charged a prbteCTiye": tariff;'•' Ho did not agree, howeverj'-with all tli6' cases cited bv Mf.-Murit.'- "■■■•■ ' ' '

Mr. J. Reid also said that he could riot agree withsohie of the cases cited by Mr..Leigh-Hunt. .When the railway tariff was closely looked into it could be seen -that fewer anomalies existed than might.at Jirst.be supposed. . Mt\ J. \V. Brodie expressed tho opinion that the recommendations should be subniitted.to the Minister, and ultimately it was decided.to do so.